CONCLUSION
The study revealed that the Edo (Benin) chiefs and craftsmen refer to Benin carvings and castings as olden days photographs. The Benins considered their castings and carvings in this light, it is because they not only capture but preserve images of (Obas, people and animals), and for the Edo nation. Consequently, this study has attempted the role of the guild system in the coronation of the Benin Oba.
The study further showed that the guild system actually began in the reign of Ogiso kings, but remnant of this can be traced to the age of the Odionwere. However, it was initiated and developed further by Ogiso Ere, one of the successors of Ogiso Igodo. In an effort to create an economic reform, Ogiso Ere embarked on the development of multiple guilds.The guilds in pre-colonial Benin were form or organised on the basis of what they produced or manufactured, there were such guilds as wood workers (Owina), the cavers (Igbesamwan), leather workers (Esohian), the hunters (Ohue), the weavers (Owinaido) the pot makers (emahe) etc.Benin kings understood the advantages from the formation of the guilds system with monopolistic rights to serve them. It was a deliberate effort to foster the monarchical institution and economic welfare of the people in Benin.
The impact of the guilds on the economic and political system of Benin was that, in pre-colonial Benin there was no cameras, or source of recording, no means documenting events, so, the bronze and the art work serves as a means of documentation of event, it was also a means of immortalisation and memory aid to history and the historians.
